in china, hundreds of people from the almighty god cult have been arrested for distributing leaflets. their crime? not warning of the end of the world but promoting war on the big red dragon-- the communist party. in the south of france it's believed by new ages to be the only safe place in the world. something to do with the shape of the mountain which overlooks the village. but today t.v. crews and police outnumbered prophets of doom. >> sreenivasan: in this country, nasa has produced a video to reassure those who need it. it's titled "why the world didn't end yesterday." the president of russia vladimir putin put new distance today between his government and the regime in syria. in his annual news conference, putin insisted his country is not protecting syrian president bashar assad. he urged assad to hold talks with the opposition, and negotiate an end to the bloodshed. >> ( translated ): we are not concerned about the fate of assad's regime. we understand what is going on there and that his family has been in power for 40 years. the changes are undoubtedly needed. we are worried